Photo of
January 7, 2016
The Bloody Mary short rib at SMOAK.
The Bloody Mary short rib at SMOAK.

We suspect that it may have had something to do with December’s heroic gin intake but the 5pm Dining blog missed a handful of new Glasgow openings in the run up to Christmas.

We could make a lame gag about them all being smoking but it’s a bit early in the year for poor wordplay so we’ll just say that there is a definite whiff of the BBQ about them.

First up, SMOAK have become a permanent fixture on Royal Exchange Square. After years of doing street food and pop-ups in various boozers, they have settled down and founded a new home from which to serve their Texan style brisket, pork belly, burgers and sirloin steaks.

Oak, hickory and apple wood are their smoking woods of choice and they are open from breakfast through to dinner.

While they have a range of softies, smoothies and so on, SMOAK is currently operating a BYOB policy for alcohol.

On the hook

Sticking with the BBQ theme, MeatHook has opened on Partick Bridge Street.

It bills itself as ‘the home of the best burgers and barbecue food in Glasgow’. We have no idea if they are the best or not but it’s certainly a crowded field to compete in.

The regional differences between North Carolina pulled pork and Memphis baby back ribs have eluded us so far but we are looking forward to educating ourselves during exhaustive explorations of the MeatHook menu.

Shrimps on the barbie?

Another newcomer is BarAussie which has set up shop on the former Bar Groove premises on Union Street.

It calls itself a gastrobar but we can can’t find any menus online and there isn’t even a hint of a barbie in their Facebook pics.

It also calls itself a shooters bar and that seems more apt.

Finally, we hear very vague rumours that The BBQ Collective may be about to branch out from their Sheffield home and set up an outpost in Glasgow.

Anyone know anything?